Bill Ryan - Australian Hero

Video | 3 April, 2014

On 31st March 2014 around 150 people took action against Whitehaven's Maules Creek Coal Mine. One of those people was a 92 year old WWII veteran. His name is Bill Ryan.

"I'm now 92 years of age and I was a veteran of the second world war. I served in the Kokoda campaign in New Britain. I thought what we were fighting for there was proper democracy. But I've learned that was not the situation. The government doesn't listen to the people, and this mine is a good example. There were over 300 submissions against the mine, and one submission for it. But it was approved. [...]
Something is wrong. We're faced with a catastrophe. I owe it to my grandchildren, and I owe it to all children. I was willing to put my life on the line in the second world war, so putting my body on the line here is a small inconvenience."
For more information about the movement to stop the Maules Creek Coal Mine, visit here: http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/en/what-we-do/climate/stop-the-maules-creek-mine/